Monday, October 31, 2016

Get ready for basketball season at Vol State! The Pioneer men will tip off on November 2 against Kentucky Wesleyan JV at 7pm. Men and women will also play at home on November 4 with the games starting at 6pm. Homecoming will be November 11 with the men starting at 5:30pm and the women’s game at 7:30pm. We are looking forward to exciting games this season. Admission is free with your Vol State ID. All home games are in the Pickel Field House. Check out the season schedule here: http://www.volstate.edu/athle…/documents/VSCC-Basketball.pdf

Monday, October 24, 2016

It's time to get ready for spring priority registration coming up November 7 and 8. You need to meet with your academic advisor. You can find who that is on your My Vol State page. Click on “DegreeWorks” under the Quick Links section. More info here.Also- the Spring 2017 schedule of classes is now available online.

Friday, October 21, 2016

On Thursday a long powder-blue truck pulled into the parking lot in front of the Pickel Field House while students looked on with curiosity. The most curious of faculty and students entered in to explore a world of new possibilities. Virtual reality had come to Vol State.

What zSpace has to offer is virtual reality for the classroom. Dissections are made easier and less messy, streamlined and individualized for the school. What’s different about this reality is that hefty headsets are not required. Students simply don a pair of specialized glasses and watch the screen come to life. Manipulate objects and even pull them out to inspect them in 3D.

Watch as a heart is selected and “held” in hand.

While zSpace isn’t available at Vol State yet, it’s exciting to think about the possibilities for the classroom of tomorrow.

Gaynell Buffinet Payne is a writer, single mother, and student at
Volunteer State Community College. She also blogs for Vol State's Returning Adult Learners.

Monday, October 17, 2016

October 24-27 is Diversity Week at Vol State. It's an opportunity to take a look at issues and challenges that impact us all. All events are free and open to everyone. Vol State Diversity Week Lineup:

Oct. 24: What Lives Matter? panel in the Ramer Great Hall from 11:10 am- 12:45pm to be moderated by Michael Torrence.Oct. 25: What You Say Can Hurt in the cafeteria from 12:45-1:45 pm to be moderated by Eric Melcher.Oct. 26: Domestic Violence & Bystanders in the Ramer Great Hall from 11:10-12:45pm.Oct. 27: Growing Up Trans (2015) showing in the Nichols Dining Room from 9:30-3:00 pm

Friday, October 14, 2016

Between 20% and 25% of
women will experience a completed and/or attempted rape during their college
career.” ~ Department of Justice

Sexual assault, acquaintance
rape, and domestic violence are some of the many issues that impact women in
college. In truth, they affect everyone.

“My girlfriend, my sister
[have been sexually assaulted.] It’s tough on them, and it’s tough on us [the
families] because we don’t know how to help them,” confessed a student who
wished to remain anonymous.

To address these issues, Vol
State will be hosting a seminar with the Nashville-based group “You Have the
Power…Know How to Use It, Inc.” on Tuesday, October 18 at 12:45pm, in Thigpen Library’s
Rochelle Center at 12:45pm. The short documentary “I Never Thought It was Rape” will be
followed by a panel discussion. Everyone is invited to attend.

“30% of the college women
who said they had been raped contemplated suicide after the incident.” ~ Robin
Warshaw, author ofI Never Called it Rape

“It’s definitely something
that stays with you,” said another student.

“Vol State is committed to
creating a safe and healthy campus climate. Our goal is for students to
understand how to build healthy relationships and strong communities.”

Lori Cutrell, Title IX
Coordinator and Director of HR at Vol State, and Vol State Police Chiefs William
Rogan and Angela Lawson will be on the panel.

Did you know? Vol State's Advising Center isn't just for academic advice. "Feel free to reach out," says Amanda Foster, Completion Advisor at VSCC. "It can be little things, a crappy day, or something major. Reach out to a favorite teacher. It doesn't have to be the Advising Center, but go to who you're comfortable with, or have them go to the Advising Center with you."

You can also visit TN.gov for mental health services or call 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471) 24/7 for a mental health emergency.

A reminder: Tutor.com is a 24/7 online tutoring service. It’s free and available to all Vol State students. You will have Internet access to a live online tutor when and where you need one. You access Tutor.com via the eLearn page for each of your courses. You must access it through your eLearn page for it to work. Here are more details:

What can you do? Brainstorm ideas, develop outlines for papers, prep for tests, and get editing help with papers. You can talk to a live tutor or drop off a paper for review. You will usually have it back within 24 hours.

To get connected to a live tutor, follow these three steps:

-Go to your course in eLearn.volstate.edu

-Click the “Connect” button in the Tutor.com box.

-A new window will pop open where you can enter your question. Click “CONNECT NOW” to be connected to a live tutor.

Want to Learn More? See how Tutor.com works in this How It Works Video

If you have questions or need assistance logging in to your account, please contact: studentsupport@tutor.com.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Interested in traveling to another country to study for a few weeks? Study Abroad information sessions for students are scheduled for Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. and Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Mattox Building room 137. Information sessions will also be held in Livingston and Cookeville on November 2. If you want to travel you need to attend one of these sessions. Scholarships are available and will be discussed at the meetings. Here's more info on the program.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

It’s time to take your next step at Vol State….plan
your path and get ready for spring semester. Current students get a jump start
registering for spring classes in November. Here’s what you need todo
now:

-Check your DegreeWorks page to see what classes you
need on the road to your degree. Then talk to your academic advisor.

-If you haven’t decided on an exact degree path yet,
it’s time to plan for your future. Check out our academic programsand also
the Tennessee Transfer Pathwaysavailable if you want to transfer to a
university. Then talk to your academic advisor. If you plan to transfer to a
university, contact an advisor there, as well, to make sure you are on the
right track.

-Make an appointment to meet with your assigned
academic advisor to discuss what you plan to take in the spring.
You will register for your classes yourself.

Your Priority Registration jump start is coming up
quickly, so get ready now:

November 7: Currently enrolled students with 30+ hours can
start registering themselves for classes

November 8: Currently enrolled students with less than 30
hours can start registering themselves for classes

If you have any problems along the way and are unable to reach your
assigned advisor, visit the Advising Center on the Gallatin campus or check
with the front desk at Highland, Cookeville and Livingston for advising help.
You can also call 615-230-3702.

A hairdresser could be a lifesaver with the proper training. That’s why
Volunteer State Community College is offering a special seminar on skin cancer
recognition for hairdressers. The event is free and open to all hairdressers
and cosmetologists. It will be held on October 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on
the Vol State campus in Gallatin. Dr. Keith Loven of Rivergate Dermatology will
discuss early skin care detection techniques when it comes to viewing the
scalp, face and neck. Registration for the free Vol State Health Sciences
Continuing Education seminar is required and can be completed by visiting www.volstate.edu/healthconed
and then clicking on available courses. For more information call 615-230-3338.

The students of Vol State humbly request your presence at our May 2017 graduation. One student in particular! He's pretty fun to hang out with, and a really good listener. Anyway, he claims that you know each other from way back.

We'd be honored if you could speak at our graduation ceremony. Either way, I hope that we've made you smile!

Sincerely,

Vol State Class of 2017

** Vol State students: we haven’t given up! Let’s give Tom Hanks a massive shout-out. Tweet your request using #Hanks2VolState and tell him why you’d love to see him at our commencement.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Everyone is invited to these events this week at Vol State: Wednesday: The Humanities Matters lecture series: Bryant Owens, "Educational Value of the Liberal Arts as seen by Augustine of Hippo's De Doctrina Christiana and The Confessions." Wednesday, October 12th, at 1:00 pm, Steinhauer-Rogan-Black Humanities Building, Room #153. Thursday: Nashville eye surgeon Ming Wang talks about his journey to the United States and success as an immigrant. VISA Club presentation. Thursday, October 13 at 12:45pm Ramer Great Hall.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Get the extra help you need for midterm tests, assignments and papers. We list free tutoring services on the College Success Zone web page.They're available for all Vol State students.-Online tutoring for everyone-Help with papers and speeches-Math tutoring-research help Check out the list here: www.volstate.edu/collegesuccess

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

When are your midterms?! I have a couple next week, right after Fall Break, so at least a portion of the break will be spent studying. But how should we study effectively so that it pays off in good grades? I’ve heard students lamenting that they study but still end up with a lower grade than hoped for, and I've heard students asking for help. So I asked a teacher and an “A” student for their advice.

Leslie LaChance, English faculty

For classes in which reading is important (literature classes, history classes), I recommend that students have printed rather than electronic texts. I also recommend that they take notes directly in the text, highlighting, underlining, writing little summaries of important points in the margins, writing out the meaning of new vocabulary. If a teacher calls attention to a particular part of a text, make note of it, underline it, etc. Then, when it is time to prepare for an exam, return to the passages you have marked, review them carefully, and closely, making a separate page of notes as part of your review.

I often see students taking pictures of something a faculty member has written on the board. That’s fine, but current research is suggesting that the physical act of actually writing something down can increase retention of that information, so rewriting lecture notes you’ve taken pictures of in class is another helpful study technique.

(My note: In the textbooks that I rent, I keep a notebook beside me and take notes on anything that seems important, just as I would during a lecture.)

Sheridan Hitchcox, student

Don’t wait until the last minute and cram! Go over your most difficult subjects every day and stay confident. Copy everything by hand, including handouts: the act of writing it builds up muscle memory, and that helps when it’s time to take a test.

I make flashcards of everything. I try to imagine how a question might be asked on a test and make a card of it. Sometimes I ask a family member to go over the flashcards with me.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Get math help in many different classes, including physics and engineering in the Learning Commons on the Gallatin campus. It's free and available to all students. Visit the Learning Commons front desk for a copy of the schedule. The Learning Commons is located inside of the Thigpen Library. Check with the Learning Commons rooms for Livingston and Springfield to see what tutoring services they offer.

Monday, October 3, 2016

You will soon be receiving an email about your Vol State Merit Page. They're designed to help you celebrate
your success while at Vol State. That can include academic honors, such as the dean's list or honor roll. It can also include student clubs and activities.We'll
be adding badges for various student achievements throughout the school
year. Many colleges and universities across the country have them for students. You can add to your badge if you transfer to keep a total record of your college and university career.What do you need to do? The first
thing is to claim your page. The easiest way to do this is click on the
link provided in an email sent to the personal email address that you
listed with the college. You can then personalize your Merit page
however you want - add a picture or add work experience. You can also
put in the emails of parents or loved ones so that they will be notified
when you receive a new badge from Merit.When you go to claim your page it will ask you for your email
address...use your personal email address that you listed on your Vol
State application. It's trying to confirm that you are who you are. Your
Vol State email address won't work for that confirmation. Everything
goes through your personal email address.We'll start everyone off with an
enrollment badge so you can see what they look like and how they work.
It also puts you in the system. Vol State Merit pages are run by the Vol
State Office of Public Relations. If you have any questions you can
contact us at pr@volstate.edu.If you don't get the email you can also visit the main Vol State Merit Pages web page
and search from there. If you still can't find your page just email us
with your name, city, zip code, and email address and we can create one
for you.Have a great school year!